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Larson: We Need to Focus on Comprehensive Solutions, Not Meaningless Partisan Votes

July 19, 2018

Press Release

Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement on the non-binding House Resolution 990:

“A humanitarian crisis in our country continues where thousands of young migrant children are locked up, having been ripped from their parent’s arms, not knowing if they will ever see them again. Meanwhile, the president continues to malign our intelligence agencies and will not deal with the larger cyber threat that our democracy is currently facing. Dan Coates, his Director of National Intelligence recently referenced the intelligence reports leading up to 9/11, when he said, ‘here we are, nearly two decades later and I’m here to say the warning lights are blinking red again’. Yet the GOP has found the time to bring to the floor a partisan messaging resolution which I have rejected from inception, aimed to only further divide the country. In a time when the president is disavowing American intelligence, House Republicans are neglecting to protect our democracy and voting on a messaging bill instead.

“I support the enforcement of our immigration laws and the men and women who work in these agencies that put their lives in danger to fight drug cartels and human trafficking. However, this non-binding resolution is not intended to address any of the brewing crises at our borders or in our communities. Let’s be clear, abolishing ICE as it is today would be reverting back to INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service) for enforcing our immigration laws, which will be under the jurisdiction of Attorney General Jeff Sessions. I don’t believe we should give him additional power to control our immigration policy. We need to focus on the immediate reunification of families, which is the result of the President’s separation policy and Congressional Republicans’ refusal to step up and take action. We need comprehensive solutions – not meaningless partisan votes,” said Larson.